Apple Watch SE 3 40mm (GPS, Midnight Aluminum Case, Midnight Sport Band S/M)
By Apple · Smartwatches · Phones & Computers
- 40mm aluminum case (Midnight)
- 324 x 394 pixel Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display
- Apple S10 chip with 64-bit dual core processor
- Up to 18 hours battery life (32 hrs Low Power Mode)
- 50m water resistance (swimproof)
Lowest price seen
~$249.00 (approx.)
from $249.00 at Amazon
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Summary
Apple’s entry-level watch shares the S10 chip with the Series 11 and 12 and adds an always-on display, sleep apnea notifications and fast charging. Check the health sensor list before you buy: no ECG, no blood oxygen app, no hypertension notifications.
Strengths
- The S10 chip is the same one Apple puts in the Series 11 and 12, so performance is not the compromise.
- The always-on display is new for the SE line and reaches 1000 nits.
- PCMag measured 46 hours of typical use, nearly double Apple’s 18-hour estimate.
- Sleep apnea notifications and wrist temperature sensing are included at this tier.
- Fifteen minutes on the charger adds up to 8 hours of normal use.
- 50m water resistance and Ion-X glass with 4x the crack resistance of the SE 2.
Weaknesses
- No ECG app, no Blood Oxygen app and no hypertension notifications; those stay with the Series 11/12 and Ultra 3/4.
- The display peaks at 1000 nits against 2000 for the Series 11 and steps down at sharper angles.
- Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz only and there is no ultra-wideband chip.
- There is no QWERTY keyboard, so text input means dictation, scribble or the iPhone.
- Bezels are large next to the Series 11 and 12.
- Fast charging needs Apple’s 20W USB-C adapter, which is not in the box.
Verified specifications
| Case | 40mm, 100% recycled aluminum in Midnight or Starlight; 26.3 g (GPS model). |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 40 × 34 × 10.7 mm; wrist fit 130–200 mm. |
| Display | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED, 324 × 394 pixels, 326 ppi, 1000 nits peak, 2 nits minimum. |
| Chip | S10 with 64-bit dual-core processor and 4-core Neural Engine. |
| Storage | 64GB. |
| Battery | up to 18 hours normal use, up to 32 hours in Low Power Mode, up to 7 hours of workout tracking. |
| Fast charging | up to 80% in about 45 minutes; 15 minutes adds up to 8 hours of normal use. |
| Water resistance | 50m (swimproof); no IP6X dust rating. |
| Sensors | second-generation optical heart sensor, temperature sensor, compass, always-on altimeter, high-g accelerometer, high-dynamic-range gyroscope, ambient light sensor. |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) on 2.4 GHz only, Bluetooth 5.3, L1 GPS with GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou, Apple Pay, GymKit. |
| Health features | heart rate and irregular rhythm notifications, sleep score, sleep apnea notifications, cycle tracking, wrist temperature sensing. |
| Compatibility | iPhone 11 or later with iOS 27 or later. |
| In the box | Apple Watch SE 3, band, and a 1 m Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C cable. |
| Recycled content | 100% recycled aluminum case, 40% recycled content overall. |
| Warranty | 1 year standard limited warranty; AppleCare+ available. |
Full research notes and sources
Battery and charging
Apple rates the SE 3 at up to 18 hours of normal use and up to 32 hours in Low Power Mode. PCMag’s typical-use test — always-on display on, GPS workouts, texts, app downloads — ran 46 hours, nearly double Apple’s estimate. A full charge took 89 minutes with the included cable and an 18W brick; the brick is not in the box. Apple says 15 minutes on the charger adds up to 8 hours of normal use, and 8 minutes adds up to 8 hours of sleep tracking.
Health sensors and what’s missing
The SE 3 carries a second-generation optical heart sensor, a temperature sensor, a compass, an always-on altimeter, a high-g accelerometer, a high-dynamic-range gyroscope and an ambient light sensor. Heart rate notifications, irregular rhythm notifications, sleep score, sleep apnea notifications, cycle tracking and wrist temperature sensing all work at this tier. The omissions are the health features Apple reserves for higher models: no ECG app, no Blood Oxygen app, no hypertension notifications. If any of those three matter to you, this is not the watch.
Screen, input and connectivity
The always-on Retina LTPO OLED runs at 324 × 394 pixels and 326 ppi, with 1000 nits peak brightness. PCMag measured the same 1000 nits against 2000 for the Series 11 and found the SE 3’s display a step down at sharper angles. Wi-Fi is 802.11n on 2.4 GHz only — no dual-band — and there is no ultra-wideband chip. There is no QWERTY keyboard, so text input means dictation, scribble or the iPhone. Siri AI needs an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone and is rolling out in English only.
Is it worth it?
Apple lists the 40mm GPS model at $229 and the 44mm at $279; cellular adds $50. At that price the SE 3 undercuts the Series 11 and 12 by $150 or more while sharing their S10 chip. PCMag calls it “a worthy alternative if you’re looking to save money” next to the $399 Series 11, and CNET’s review says most buyers don’t need to spend hundreds more for the core features. Above $300 the Series 11 or 12 makes more sense for the health sensors and the brighter display. If you want ECG, blood oxygen or hypertension monitoring, look up the lineup.
Which model this is
This page covers the Apple Watch SE 3, 40mm GPS with a Midnight aluminum case and Midnight Sport Band S/M, announced in September 2025 as the successor to the SE 2. The Amazon listing for this configuration is ASIN B0FQFW7M9H. It needs an iPhone 11 or later with iOS 27 or later. Don’t confuse it with the Series 11 or 12 or the Ultra line, which add ECG, blood oxygen and brighter displays.
Sources
Manufacturer:
Independent reviews:
